Physico-chemical properties of soils under herbaceous groups in the wetlands of the Congolese Cuvette District, Congo
Paper Details
Physico-chemical properties of soils under herbaceous groups in the wetlands of the Congolese Cuvette District, Congo
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics of soils under the main herbaceous groups used for agro-pastoral activities in the wetlands in Cuvette District in Congo. Soil samples were removed with an auger in the depth of 0-20 cm and were subjected to physico-chemical analyses at the soil science laboratory of the University of Abomey-Calavi in the Republic of Benin. The results obtained revealed that the soils were clayey in the amphibious savannahs, silty in the aquatic grasslands and sandy in the steppe-like savannahs soils were acidic (pH varying between 3.13 and 5.96), with low nitrogen content (0.03 to 0.45%) and fairly high assimilable phosphorus content (13.46 to 58.65 ppm). The C/N ratios were moderately balanced in the amphibious savannahs but reflected very strong edaphic constraints in the grasslands and steppe-like savannahs. The cation exchange capacity was moderately low and potassium contents seemed to be quite low overall. Their organic matter content varied from 1.38 to 5.08%. The Ca/Mg and K/Mg ratios appear to be balanced, but the (Ca+Mg)/K ratios showed unsatisfactory values overall. The soils did not seem to be fertile enough; agro-pastoral practices should maintain the balance to ensure the sustainability of the wetlands.
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